After losing its last eight games last season and falling in the opener this season, the Bishop Eustace High School football team finally got off the schneid Saturday afternoon when it defeated Gloucester Catholic, 14-6, in West Jersey League interdivision action.

“It feels awesome,” said senior Crusader quarterback Tim McConnell. “We haven’t won in nine games including last year and to come out and beat Gloucester Catholic is just awesome.”

“We were anticipating the ‘W’ and we’re disappointed,” said Rams head coach Tony Garczynski. “They’re a good football team, they had a good scouting report on us and they closed us down. But our defense played well, shut them down a couple of times in the red zone.”

Defense was the key for both teams Saturday, as points were at a premium.

The Crusaders got on the board first, capping an eight-play, 67-yard drive with McConnell hammering it home from the 1 with 27 seconds to go in the first half.

“It was good,” McConnell said of his TD run. “Just going into the half felt great to score and get the momentum.”

After blowing a 21-14 halftime lead against Woodrow Wilson last week, the Crusaders were ready for the second half this week. They had a chance to extend their lead in the third quarter, but the Rams came up with a stop on 4th-and-inches from their own 3.

But the Rams weren’t able to take advantage of the possible momentum swing. After picking up a pair of first downs and moving the ball near midfield, Tom Tyrell came up with the interception for the Crusaders.

It didn’t take the Crusaders long to make the Rams pay for the turnover as on the first play from scrimmage McConnell found Chris Smith streaking down the sideline for a 39-yard gain down to the Rams’ 6.

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Three plays later McConnell found Vinny Papale — son of former Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale — for a 4-yard score and some breathing room.

“Vinny’s a great receiver and I wouldn’t be the quarterback I am without him. ... It was a great play by him,” said McConnell.

The Crusader defense held the Rams to 194 yards of total offense, with 130 of it coming in the air. Sixty of those yards were by Matt Davis — with a few of his five grabs converting big first downs — catching passes from his twin brother Mike.

“They have a communication between them, but we have to open it up to other kids because they’re starting to double team (Matt) and everybody knows they’re brothers and (Mike) is going to throw to his brother,” Garczynski said. “It’s a thing where we have to be more diversified in our offense. That’s a big weapon for us and we have to keep using it, but other guys have to open up for us as well.”

Mike scored the only touchdown for the Rams, punching it in from 2 yards out after a pair of grabs by Mike got the Rams into the red zone.